List of yokozuna

This is a list of all sumo wrestlers who have reached the sport's highest rank of yokozuna. It was not recorded on the banzuke until 1890 and was not officially recognised as sumo's highest rank until 1909. Until then, yokozuna was merely a licence given to certain ōzeki to perform the dohyō-iri ceremony. It was not always the strongest ōzeki but those with the most influential patrons who were chosen.

The first list of yokozuna (with 17 names in total) was compiled by the 12th yokozuna Jinmaku Kyūgorō in 1900 but was not regarded as official until 1926 when it was published by the newly formed Japan Sumo Association and updated to 31 names. Since that time, 42 more yokozuna have been promoted. The Sumo Association have overseen all promotions since Chiyonoyama's in 1951. Two consecutive tournament championships or an "equivalent performance" at ōzeki level are the minimum requirement for promotion to yokozuna in modern sumo.

The longest serving yokozuna ever was Hakuhō, who was promoted in 2007 and retired in 2021.^[1]

The number of top division championships won by each yokozuna is also listed. Those listed for yokozuna active before the summer tournament of 1909 are historically conferred from the win–loss records of the time as no system of championships existed up to this time.

List

?	Information is uncertain
†	Wrestler died as yokozuna
¤	Elder left their position early and quit the Sumo Association

No.	Name		Top division championships	Stable^[a]	Home town^[b]	Promoted^[c]	Retired	Ring-entering style	Elder name^[d]
No.	Rōmaji	Japanese	Top division championships	Stable^[a]	Home town^[b]	Promoted^[c]	Retired	Ring-entering style	Elder name^[d]
1	Akashi Shiganosuke	明石志賀之助	—	—	Utsunomiya, Tochigi ?	?	1649 ? †	—	None
2	Ayagawa Gorōji	綾川五郎次	—	—	Tochigi ?	?	1765 ? †	—	None
3	Maruyama Gondazaemon	丸山権太左衛門	—	Nanatsumori	Tome, Miyagi	1749	1749 †	—	None
4	Tanikaze Kajinosuke	谷風梶之助	21	Isenoumi	Sendai, Miyagi	1789	1795 †	—	None
5	Onogawa Kisaburō	小野川喜三郎	7	Onogawa	Ōtsu, Shiga	1789	1797	—	Onogawa
6	Ōnomatsu Midorinosuke	阿武松緑之助	5	Shikoroyama	Noto, Ishikawa	1828	1835	—	Onomatsu
7	Inazuma Raigorō	稲妻雷五郎	10	Sadogatake	Inashiki, Ibaraki	1830	1839	—	None
8	Shiranui Dakuemon	不知火諾右衛門	1	Urakaze	Uto, Kumamoto	1840	1844	—	Minato
9	Hidenoyama Raigorō	秀の山雷五郎	6	Hidenoyama	Kesennuma, Miyagi	1847	1850	—	Hidenoyama
10	Unryū Kyūkichi	雲龍久吉	7	Jinmaku	Yanagawa, Fukuoka	1861	1865	Shiranui	Oitekaze
11	Shiranui Kōemon	不知火光右衛門	3	Sakaigawa	Ōzu, Kumamoto	1863	1869	Unryū	Minato
12	Jinmaku Kyūgorō	陣幕久五郎	5	Hidenoyama	Matsue, Shimane	1867	1867	—	None
13	Kimenzan Tanigorō	鬼面山谷五郎	7	Takekuma	Yōrō, Gifu	1869	1870	Shiranui	None
14	Sakaigawa Namiemon	境川浪右衛門	5	Sakaigawa	Ichikawa, Chiba	1877	1881	—	Sakaigawa
15	Umegatani Tōtarō I	梅ケ谷藤太郎	9	Tamagaki	Asakura, Fukuoka	1884	1885	—	Ikazuchi
16	Nishinoumi Kajirō I	西ノ海嘉治郎 (初代)	2	Takasago	Satsumasendai, Kagoshima	1890	1896	—	Izutsu
17	Konishiki Yasokichi I	小錦八十吉	7	Takasago	Yokoshibahikari, Chiba	1896	1901	—	Hatachiyama
18	Ōzutsu Man'emon	大砲万右衛門	2	Oguruma	Shiroishi, Miyagi	1901	1908	—	Matsuchiyama
19	Hitachiyama Taniemon	常陸山谷右衛門	8	Dewanoumi	Mito, Ibaraki	1903	1914	—	Dewanoumi
20	Umegatani Tōtarō II	梅ヶ谷藤太郎 (二代)	3	Ikazuchi	Toyama	1903	1915	Unryū	Ikazuchi
21	Wakashima Gonshirō	若島権四郎	4	Nakamura	Ichikawa, Chiba	1905	1907	—	Wakashima ¤
22	Tachiyama Mineemon	太刀山峰右衛門	11	Tomozuna	Toyama	1911	1918	Shiranui	Azumazeki ¤
23	Ōkido Moriemon	大木戸森右衛門	10	Minato	Kobe, Hyōgo	1912	1914	—	Minato
24	Ōtori Tanigorō	鳳谷五郎	2	Miyagino	Inzai, Chiba	1915	1920	Unryū	Miyagino
25	Nishinoumi Kajirō II	西ノ海嘉治郎 (二代)	1	Izutsu	Nishinoomote, Kagoshima	1916	1918	Unryū	Izutsu
26	Ōnishiki Uichirō	大錦卯一郎	5	Dewanoumi	Osaka	1917	1923	Unryū	None
27	Tochigiyama Moriya	栃木山守也	9	Dewanoumi	Tochigi	1918	1925	Unryū	Kasugano
28	Ōnishiki Daigorō	大錦大五郎	6	Asahiyama	Yatomi, Aichi	1918	1922	Unryū	None
29	Miyagiyama Fukumatsu	宮城山福松	6	Takadagawa	Ichinoseki, Iwate	1922	1931	Unryū	Shibatayama
30	Nishinoumi Kajirō III	西ノ海嘉治郎 (三代)	1	Izutsu	Kirishima, Kagoshima	1923	1928	Unryū	Asakayama
31	Tsunenohana Kan'ichi	常ノ花寛市	10	Dewanoumi	Okayama	1924	1930	Unryū	Dewanoumi
32	Tamanishiki San'emon	玉錦三右衛門	9	Nishonoseki	Kōchi	1932	1938 †	Unryū	None
33	Musashiyama Takeshi	武蔵山武	1	Dewanoumi	Yokohama, Kanagawa	1935	1939	Unryū	Dekiyama ¤
34	Minanogawa Tōzō	男女ノ川登三	2	Sadogatake	Tsukuba, Ibaraki	1936	1942	Unryū	Minanogawa ¤
35	Futabayama Sadaji	双葉山定次	12	Tatsunami	Usa, Ōita	1937	1945	Unryū	Tokitsukaze
36	Haguroyama Masaji	羽黒山政司	7	Tatsunami	Niigata	1941	1953	Shiranui	Tatsunami
37	Akinoumi Setsuo	安藝ノ海節男	1	Dewanoumi	Hiroshima	1942	1946	Unryū	Fujishima ¤
38	Terukuni Manzō	照國万蔵	2	Isegahama	Yuzawa, Akita	1942	1953	Unryū	Isegahama
39	Maedayama Eigorō	前田山英五郎	1	Takasago	Yawatahama, Ehime	1947	1949	Unryū	Takasago
40	Azumafuji Kin'ichi	東富士欽壱	6	Takasago	Taitō, Tokyo	1948	1954	Unryū	Nishikido ¤
41	Chiyonoyama Masanobu	千代の山雅信	6	Dewanoumi	Fukushima, Hokkaido	1951	1959	Unryū	Kokonoe
42	Kagamisato Kiyoji	鏡里喜代治	4	Tokitsukaze	Sannohe, Aomori	1953	1958	Unryū	Tatsutagawa
43	Yoshibayama Junnosuke	吉葉山潤之輔	1	Takashima	Ishikari, Hokkaido	1954	1958	Shiranui	Miyagino
44	Tochinishiki Kiyotaka	栃錦清隆	10	Kasugano	Edogawa, Tokyo	1954	1960	Unryū	Kasugano
45	Wakanohana Kanji I	若乃花幹士 (初代)	10	Hanakago	Hirosaki, Aomori	1958	1962	Unryū	Futagoyama
46	Asashio Tarō III	朝潮太郎	5	Takasago	Tokunoshima, Kagoshima	1959	1962	Unryū	Takasago
47	Kashiwado Tsuyoshi	柏戸剛	5	Isenoumi	Tsuruoka, Yamagata	1961	1969	Unryū	Kagamiyama
48	Taihō Kōki	大鵬幸喜	32	Nishonoseki	Teshikaga, Hokkaido	1961	1971	Unryū	Taihō
49	Tochinoumi Teruyoshi	栃ノ海晃嘉	3	Kasugano	Inakadate, Aomori	1964	1966	Unryū	Kasugano
50	Sadanoyama Shinmatsu	佐田の山晋松	6	Dewanoumi	Shin-Kamigotō, Nagasaki	1965	1968	Unryū	Nakadachi
51	Tamanoumi Masahiro	玉の海正洋	6	Kataonami	Gamagōri, Aichi	1970	1971 †	Shiranui	None
52	Kitanofuji Katsuaki	北の富士勝昭	10	Kokonoe	Asahikawa, Hokkaido	1970	1974	Unryū	Jinmaku
53	Kotozakura Masakatsu	琴櫻傑将	5	Sadogatake	Kurayoshi, Tottori	1973	1974	Shiranui	Sadogatake
54	Wajima Hiroshi	輪島大士	14	Hanakago	Nanao, Ishikawa	1973	1981	Unryū	Hanakago ¤
55	Kitanoumi Toshimitsu	北の湖敏満	24	Mihogaseki	Sōbetsu, Hokkaido	1974	1985	Unryū	Kitanoumi
56	Wakanohana Kanji II	若乃花幹士 (二代)	4	Futagoyama	Ōwani, Aomori	1978	1983	Unryū	Magaki
57	Mienoumi Tsuyoshi	三重ノ海剛司	3	Dewanoumi	Matsusaka, Mie	1979	1980	Unryū	Musashigawa
58	Chiyonofuji Mitsugu	千代の富士貢	31	Kokonoe	Fukushima, Hokkaido	1981	1991	Unryū	Kokonoe
59	Takanosato Toshihide	隆の里俊英	4	Futagoyama	Aomori	1983	1986	Shiranui	Naruto
60	Futahaguro Kōji	双羽黒光司	0	Tatsunami	Tsu, Mie	1986	1988	Shiranui	None
61	Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi	北勝海信芳	8	Kokonoe	Hiroo, Hokkaido	1987	1992	Unryū	Hakkaku
62	Ōnokuni Yasushi	大乃国康	2	Hanaregoma	Memuro, Hokkaido	1987	1991	Unryū	Shibatayama
63	Asahifuji Seiya	旭富士正也	4	Ōshima	Tsugaru, Aomori	1990	1992	Shiranui	Isegahama
64	Akebono Tarō	曙太郎	11	Azumazeki	Oahu, Hawaii, United States	1993	2001	Unryū	Akebono ¤
65	Takanohana Kōji	貴乃花光司	22	Futagoyama	Nakano, Tokyo	1994	2003	Unryū	Takanohana ¤
66	Wakanohana Masaru	若乃花勝	5	Futagoyama	Nakano, Tokyo	1998	2000	Shiranui	Fujishima ¤
67	Musashimaru Kōyō	武蔵丸光洋	12	Musashigawa	Oahu, Hawaii, United States	1999	2003	Unryū	Musashigawa
68	Asashōryū Akinori	朝青龍明徳	25	Takasago	Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia	2003	2010	Unryū	None
69	Hakuhō Shō	白鵬翔	45	Miyagino	Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia	2007	2021	Shiranui	Miyagino
70	Harumafuji Kōhei	日馬富士公平	9	Isegahama	Govi-Altai, Mongolia	2012	2017	Shiranui	None
71	Kakuryū Rikisaburō	鶴竜力三郎	6	Izutsu	Sükhbaatar, Mongolia	2014	2021	Unryū	Otowayama
72	Kisenosato Yutaka	稀勢の里寛	2	Tagonoura	Ushiku, Ibaraki	2017	2019	Unryū	Nishonoseki
73	Terunofuji Haruo	照ノ富士春雄	10	Isegahama	Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia	2021	active	Shiranui	—

Timeline

Notes

^ at the time of promotion
^ Modernized, as listed by the Japan Sumo Association
^ Yokozuna was not listed as a rank on the banzuke until 1890, so all promotion dates from the 4th yokozuna Tanikaze until the 16th Nishinoumi Kajirō I are in fact the date they were given a yokozuna licence by House of Yoshida Tsukasa, who controlled Tokyo based sumo. The first yokozuna, Akashi Shiganosuke, was awarded the title posthumously, and little is known about the careers of Ayagawa Gorōji and Maruyama Gondazaemon. The 21st yokozuna Wakashima, the 23rd Okido, the 28th Ōnishiki Daigorō and the 29th Miyagiyama competed in the rival Osaka based sumo organisation and were initially given licences by the House of Gojo. The date given is their official acceptance by the Tokyo House.
^ This column shows the name used as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association after retirement. Only the final elder name is listed; other names may have been used. For example, Sadanoyama was known as Dewanoumi for much of his time as an elder, and Kitanofuji as Kokonoe.

References

^ "Hakuho: Sumo wrestling's greatest champion retires". Retrieved 2021-09-27.

External links

歴代横綱 - 日本相撲協会公式サイト [Reigning Yokozuna - Japan Sumo Association Official Site]. Japan Sumo Association (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 24, 2024.
Yokozuna list at the Japanese Sumo Association (English)

[2] t the time of promotion

[3] Modernized, as listed by the Japan Sumo Association

[4] Yokozuna was not listed as a rank on the banzuke until 1890, so all promotion dates from the 4th yokozuna Tanikaze until the 16th Nishinoumi Kajirō I are in fact the date they were given a yokozuna licence by House of Yoshida Tsukasa, who controlled Tokyo based sumo. The first yokozuna, Akashi Shiganosuke, was awarded the title posthumously, and little is known about the careers of Ayagawa Gorōji and Maruyama Gondazaemon. The 21st yokozuna Wakashima, the 23rd Okido, the 28th Ōnishiki Daigorō and the 29th Miyagiyama competed in the rival Osaka based sumo organisation and were initially given licences by the House of Gojo. The date given is their official acceptance by the Tokyo House.

[5] This column shows the name used as an elder of the Japan Sumo Association after retirement. Only the final elder name is listed; other names may have been used. For example, Sadanoyama was known as Dewanoumi for much of his time as an elder, and Kitanofuji as Kokonoe.

[1] "Hakuho: Sumo wrestling's greatest champion retires". Retrieved 2021-09-27.

[1]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]